Suhail Bhat
Srinagar, Mar 12: The construction work on the much-awaited Mini-Secretariat at Watergam area of Rafiabad in North Kashmir’s Baramulla has been going on for the last eight years with locals pinning hope on the present administration for its completion.
Locals alleged that the successive Governments showed an indifferent attitude towards the project, leading to the suspension of work now and then. “We hope that the present administration will come to our rescue by expediting the construction work. Eight years have passed since the work on the project was started and we are yet to get benefitted,” Abdul Hameed, a local said.
With the estimated cost of Rs 5.56 crores, the project was to be commissioned in 2012, and work started subsequently.
Once complete, Mini-Secretariat could accommodate all the Government departments of the district in a single place and provide hassle-free governance to the people. “It was supposed to ease the woes of the people and ensure that people do not have to travel long distances to get their things done,” another local said, adding people have to travel a long distance for petty issues.
The locals added that the Mini-Secretariat would have saved time of the people. “It would help us in various ways and we don’t have to visit various departments for our grievances and it will reduce time in redressing our grievances,” Iqbal Ahmad, a local said.
An official of R&B, however, blamed the paucity of funds for the delay in the project. “The project was delayed because of the scarcity of funds and the construction work was often stopped as the funds were not released,” he said
Muzaffar Ahmad Jan, Assistant Executive Engineer, R&B department said the construction work of the building is complete but finishing works are pending. “About 90 percent of the construction work is almost complete and only finishing touch to the building is pending,” he said.
Jan said that they have submitted estimates for the pending work and are awaiting approval. “The process of tendering has also been initiated. We have submitted estimates and awaiting approval. Once approval is received, the work will begin,” he said.
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